Time controlled switch



June 18, 1935. P. HUNGERBUHLER 2,005,085

TIME CONTROLLED swITcH Filed Dec. 5, 1950 W MM Patented June 18, 1935UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH land ApplicationDecember 5, 1930, Serial No. 500,326 In Switzerland December 17, 1929 9Claims.

The invention relates to time-controlleddevices for governing electricalcircuits, and more especially to such mechanisms having unusually widetime period variation and control.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of mechanism embodying theinvention, with certain parts broken away and others shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a circuitcontrolling mechanismoperated from an extension of shaft 3|; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of certain controlling mechanisms shownin the upper righthand part of Fig. l.

The invention comprises as one of its main 30 features a plurality ofswitches or other electrical circuit-controlling devices, and agoverning clock movement having means for widely varying the relativetime-speed of the clock movement, and means for actuating or controllingthe various switches or like devices from different parts of the clockmechanism moving at different speeds but in a definite time ratio withrespect to each other. The invention provides further means forwidely-varying the time-speed ratio of the clock mechanism, and throughsuch variable control and the before-described relation of therespective circuit-controlling devices, an exceedingly wide and accuratevariation is effected in the time periods or operation periods of themechanism as applied to one or more circuits.

The invention provides furthermore, a timeratio speed controlfor theclock mechanism calibrated in time-intervals having a definite relationto the relative speed of the respective circuit-control operatingdevices, whereby a setting of the time-regulating means may be directlymade to effect time-interval operation or control of the circuits withinfractions of a second and over a very wide range of time.

In connection with one or more of the features of the invention alreadydescribed, two or more switches or other circuit-controlling devices maybe arranged in parallel and be controlled respectively by differentparts of the clock mechanism moving in a predetermined speed ratio,thereby 5 securing a very wide extension in the time range of control ofa particular circuit.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of theinvention as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, the pendulum ofthe clock movement comprises a pendulum rod 4 which is suspended in aconventional manner on the pin l of a suspension member 2 and is guidedby means of a pendulum fork 3. Rod 4 is provided with a scale calibratedin seconds graduations from 8 to 25 seconds, although any desired rangemay be provided. The pendulum bob 5 is preferably U-shape, and ismounted so as to be movable along the pendulum rod 4 and bears aresilient pointer l0 fixed to the sides 6, I of the pendulum bob 5 bymeans of screws 8, 9. The end I I of the pointer l0 indicates the centreof gravity of the pendulum bob and lies over the graduations of thescale on the pendulum rod 4. For securing the bob in the desiredposition a set screw 13 is arranged on the transverse member l2 andengages the rod, clamping the bob 5 to the rod. By reason of theindication of the centre of gavity by the end H of the pointer Hi thependulum bob 5 may be employed both in the position shown in the drawingand also in the reversed position, which is necessary when the lowergraduations 24, 25 are used. The U- shape of the pendulum bob 5 alsopermits movement of the pendulum bob 5 to the upper graduations, 8, 9 ofthe scale at the upper end of the pendulum fork 3. In this manner thewhole length of the pendulum rod 4 is rendered useful for the variationof the frequency of the switching operation.

In order to produce a very rapid oscillation of the pendulum, such as isrequired for the comparatively low signalling times, the pendulum coactswith an auxiliary spring I 4, fixed at one end to a block I6 mounted ona pendulum arbor, e. g., the pallet arbor I5, and extends laterallytherefrom, and at the other end is mounted so as to slide between twoset-screws I8, l9 which are variably positionable in a carrier member ordouble bracket ll, while the auxiliary spring I4 I makes its oscillatorymovements between such set screws.

Means are also provided for stopping the pendulum and, as embodied, thisstopping device 20 comprises a stopping pin 23 movable in a frame 2I andacted upon by a spring 22. This stopping pin 23 has a locking pin 25guided in a bayonet slot 24 in the frame 2| and an operating knob 26extending through an opening in the cover of the apparatus and capableof being easily raised or lowered.

For periodically actuating the switching members, later to, bedescribed, there is provided a cam 39 on the arbor 21 of the escapementwheel 28 and this contacts with a contact device 29, while on the arbor3| of the five-minutes wheel 32 there are fixed two cams 34, 35 coactingwith a switch 33.

The switches 29, 33 are arranged at the sides of the clock frame, andare generally similar in construction to one another except in thearrangement of their mountings 36, 31. For moving switch 33alternatively into operative relation to cam 34 or cam 35 it is variablypositionable longitudinally of the arbor 31, on which it is mounted,which is not the case with the switch 29, since this cooperates withonly one cam 39.

The switch 33, which is shown in plan in Figure 2, comprises two contactsprings 38, 39, and contact spring 38 is provided with a contact plate49 for making the contact. Spring 38 is fixed while the other contactspring 39 is arranged so as to be movable on an insulating block 4|, andfor this purpose contact spring 39 is provided with slots 42, 43,through which extend screws 44, 45 threaded into the insulating block4|. For moving contact spring 39 an insulating lever 48 is pivotallymounted on screw 41 and is also connected to the longitudinally movablecontact spring 39 by means of a pin 49. As lever 48 is moved in eitherthe one or the other direction contact spring 39 is moved accordingly.Dependent on the position of the contact spring 39, the latter will resteither a longer or shorter time on its actuating cam 35, and in this waythe duration of the contact between the two members 38,39 can be easilyand accurately varied. The axial movement of the insulating block 4| onthe arbor 31 enables the pair of contact springs 38, 39 to be broughtalternatively into engagement with either of the cams 34 or 35.

For selectively moving the switches 29 and 33 into and out of operativerelation to the actuating cams a shifting means is provided comprisingthe levers 5|, 52 and 53, and the free end 54 of the link 52 ispreferably resilient and is provided with a projection 56 engaging in anotch 55. By means of the notch 55, the lever system 5 52 and 53 may besecured in any one of three positions, viz. in one position where onlyswitch 29 is in operative position, in a second position where theswitch 33 is in operative position, and in a third position where bothswitches 29, 33 are out of engagement with their actuating earns 39, 34or 35.

Additional switching means are provided to be operated at differentperiods and as embodied are supported on a lever plate 59, mounted onone of the front plates 51 of the clock and pivotally mounted on a screw58. This switch 69 is made in the form of a so-called scissors-leverswitch and is shown in detail in Figure 3. For actuating the switch acam 6| is provided coacting with two scissorslevers 62, 63, one of whichis pivotally mounted by hearing 64 on the lever plate 59 and the otheris medianly pivoted by a pin 66 mounted on an eccentric 65 which isrotatably mounted on the scissors lever 62. The eccentric 65 isconnected to a lever 61, provided with adscissors lever 63, which isresiliently held against cam 6| by a spring 68 and is provided at itsfree end with an insulating pin 19 coacting with a contact spring 69, ismoved longitudinally relatively to the scissors lever 62. In this mannerthe duration of the contact between the two contact members 69, 1| canbe varied. Cam 6| is driven by gears 12, 13, gear 12 being mounted onthe hour wheel arbor 14.

Additional switching means are also provided on the front plate 51 ofthe movement, and an insulating strip 16 is mounted on plate 19 which isfixed to the front plate 51 by screws 11, 18. Contact springs 89, 8|,82, 83 and 84 are secured to plate 19 and the two contact springs 82, 83are actuated by two scissors-levers 85, 86.

The switching actuating member of the contact device 15 comprises twogears 81, 88 which are displaced relatively to one another and aredriven through two different sets of gearing, i. e. either through gears99, 9| and 92 or through gears 93, 92 from the gear 12 mounted on thehour wheel arbor 14. In this arrangement, the two pinions 99, 93, arearranged on a bell-crank 96 which is pivotally mounted on the hour wheelarbor 14 and is provided with an adjusting screw acting against a spring94. Thebell crank 96 rests against the lever plate 59 carrying switch69, so that when turning the latter about the screw 58 the bell crank 96turns about the arbor 14 and gear wheel 12 is thereby either coupledthrough one train of gearing 99, 9|, or through the toothed pinion 93with the scissors-lever-actuating gears 81, 88, or is brought out ofengagement therewith.

To enable the individual operative positions of the gearing to bedetermined exactly, the plate 59 is provided with a mark and a plate 91fixed to the front plate 51 is also provided with marks indicating threepositions. In the position of the plate 59 shown in the drawing, thegear 12 is out of engagement with the pinion 13, and is geared to gears81, 88 through the gearing 99, 9|. The mark on the plate 59 then liesopposite the mark 2, 3 on the plate 91. On the further turning of theplate 59 up to the mark the bell crank 96 will be turned about thehour-wheel arbor 14, in such a manner that the gear 9| comes out ofengagement with the pinion 92. In this position the pinions 13, 92 arethus uncoupled from the driving gear 12. In the left-hand extremeposition marked 4 of the plate 59 the gear 12 is in engagement with thepinion 13 of the cam 6| and through pinion 93 is geared with the pinion92 of the gears 81, 88, placing both switches 89, 15 in operativeposition. The switch-actuating members 6|, 81, 88 are then moved at thesame angular velocity.

The switches controlled by the switch-actuating members 39, 34, 35, 6|can either be connected in parallel to a common signal circuit or theycan be connected to separate signal circuits, as desired. The currentreversing device 15 on the other hand is preferably connected to aseparate signalling circuit 98, which may include the polarizedsignalling devices 99. The signalling devices 99 may serve for variouspurposes, such for example, as in factories for controlling the durationof definite industrial operations. As shown in the drawing, thesignalling circuit 98 is connected to terminals I99, I9I, the batteryI92 to terminals I98, |94 and the two terminals |9I, I95 are connecteddirectly together. I

In signalling circuit 98 there is also preferably provided an auxiliaryswitch I96, which has two contact springs I01, I08. The upper contactspring I01 bearing a contact pin I09 is provided with an extension H0,and is bent at I to receive an insulating pin 3 on an extension II2 ofplate 59. By this means, when the plate 59 is moved into the positionmark I, i. e. the position in which both the cam 6| of the contactdevice 80 and also the switching members 81, 88 of the reversing deviceI5 take up their inoperative positions, the auxiliary switch I06 isopened by the resilience of the spring I01 and by this means any wastingof current in the signal circuit 98 is prevented. In the two extremepositions of plate 59 the insulating pin II3 on the lever arm 2 ispressed against the sides of the bent portion I I I to hold theauxiliary switch I06 in its closed position.

The auxiliary switch I 06 is also controlled by the stopping device 20.For this purpose the actuating member 23 is connected to a spring I I4resting on the lower contact spring I08 of the auxiliary switch I06. Bydownward movement of the pin 23, the contact spring I08 is moved awayfrom the opposite contact pin I09 and therefore also any unnecessaryconsumption of current in the signalling circuit 98 is avoided when theclock is at rest.

The graduation of the pendulum rod 4 is carried out in accordance withthe signals to be produced by the cam 30 of the switch 29. In thepresent embodiment, the frequency of the signals varies from 8 toseconds, and can be read off directly from the pendulum rod 4 for theswitch 29. The twenty-six second signal can also be set byapproximation. The indicating end of the pendulum bob 5 then liesapproximately a centimetre beyond the pendulum rod 4. In the position ofthe pendulum bob 5 on the pendulum rod 4 shown in the drawing, theswitch 29 will make a momentary closure of the signal circuit every 20seconds. In order that the current impulses produced by the contactdevice 29 and transmitted into the signal line, when following oneanother rapidly shall notbe too short or when following one anotherslowly shall not last too long, the contact spring 39 must be movedaccordingly by actuating lever 48' (Figure 2). In Figure 1, the switch29 is in the operative position and contact 38 has just fallen from thecam and come into contact with the contact spring 39. In the next twoseconds, for instance, the contact spring 39 will slip off the cam 30and by this means the contact between the two contact springs 38, 39 isagain interrupted.

The two cams 34, coacting with switch 33, since they are mounted on thefive-minutes wheel arbor 3|, are moved ten times slower than the cam 30on the escapement wheel arbor 21.

To determine the position of the pendulum bob 5 on the scale of thependulum rod 4 for a definite signal frequency to be produced by the cam34, the given signalling frequency must be divided by 3 since the cam 34being made in three parts produces three switching operations during onerevolution. Thus for this series of signals, signals having a frequencyof 27 to 86 seconds can be produced. If for example, an interval of 52seconds between signals is desired, the switch 33 is first moved alongits arbor 31 until it lies opposite cam 34 (Figure 2). Then by actuatingthe resilient end 54 of the link 52 the contact device 29 is brought outof its operative position and the contact device 33 into its, operativeposition. In addition the number, for which the pendulum bob 5 must beadjusted on the pendulum rod 4, must be determined, and for thispurpose, 52 should be divided by 3 which gives 15.6. The set screw I3 ofthe pendulum bob 5 is released and the end II of the pointer set betweenI5 and I 6, after which the pendulum can be set in operation.

With the switch 33 controlled by the cam 35, such device is onlyactuated once during one revolution of the cam 35 instead of thrice.This cam 35 is moved at one tenth the speed of cam 30, and signalfrequencies between 80 seconds and 260 seconds can be produced in thisseries of signals. For the adjustment of the pendulum bob 5 on thependulum rod 4, a ten times smaller amount is thus always taken.

The method of operation of the switch 33 is the same as that of theswitch 29, except that the switch 33 must be moved either to the left orto the right (Figure 2) in order to enable it to be brought intooperative position with the required cam 34 or 35.

The fourth cam 6| arranged on plate 59 and driven through the gearing12, I3 by the hour wheel arbor I4 runs at such a speed that the signaltimes are 33 times greater than those indicated on the pendulum rod 4.Thus in this series signal frequencies up to 15 minutes can be set. Forexample, should it be desired to close switch 60 every 800 seconds, theposition for the pendulum bob is obtained by multiplying 800 by 3 anddividing this product by 100, which gives 24. The pointer I0 of thependulum bob 5 is thus to be adjusted to the mark 24. In this case also,the duration of contact of the switch 60 can be adapted to the set timeof signal by turning the lever 61. On the dropping of the scissors lever62 from the cam 6| the insulating pin I0 of the scissors lever 83 ismoved downwards and consequently the two contact springs 69, I0 contactwith one another. Shortly afterwards the scissors lever 63 will alsofall from the cam 6| and the contact between the two. contact springs69, II will again be interrupted by the tension of the spring 68.

The switch actuating members 81, 88 of the current reversing device 15,when the gearing 90, 9| is connected, runs at a speed which is similarto that of the five minutes wheel 32 and, when the gear 93 is connected,at a speed which is similar to that of the switch-actuating member 6| ofthe contact device 60. The switchactuating members 81, 88 can thus beactuated in two series of time signals, one comprising frequencies from80 to 260 seconds and the other frequencies from 260 to 900 seconds.

The two scissors-levers 85, 86 are controlled by the teeth of theircorresponding gear wheels 81, 88 in such a manner that the two contactsprings 82, 83 on the movement of the scissors lever 85 off the tooth ofthe wheel 81 are moved to the left, and on the movement of the scissorslever 88 off the tooth of the wheel 88 are moved to the right. In thefirst case, the contact spring 82 comes into contact with contact spring80, and contact spring 83 with contact spring 84. In the second case thecontact spring 82 comes into contact with contact spring 84, and contactspring 83 with contact spring 8|. Positive and negative impulses arethen sent into the circuit 98 and the polarized signalling device 99 iscorrespondingly actuated.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:-

1. A switching mechanism including in combination a pair of levers, oneof said levers being provided with a fixed pivot, the second lever beingmedianly pivoted on the first with their ends in substantial alinement,an actuating cam, means for normally pressing one end of the leversagainst the cam, and a switch operated by the free end of the secondlever.

2. A switching mechanism including in combination a pair of levers, oneof said levers being provided with a fixed pivot, the second lever beingmedianly pivoted on the first, an eccentric mounting for the second,pivot, an actuating cam, said levers being so positioned that theyengage the cam in approximate alinement, and a switch operated by thefree end of the second lever.

3. A switching mechanism including in combination a p ir of levers, oneof said levers being provided '7, ith a fixed pivot, the second leverbeing medic .ly pivoted on the first, an actuating cam, one eni of eachlever contacting with the cam along approximately the same line, and aswitch operated by the free end of the second lever.

4. A switching mechanism including in combination a pair of levers, oneof said levers being provided with a fixed pivot, the second lever beingmedianly pivoted on the first by an eccentrically mounted pivot, meansfor rotating the eccentric to move the levers relatively to each otherto place the ends of levers out of exact alinement with each other, acam with which the ends of the levers coact and a switch actuated by thefree end of the second lever.

5. A switching mechanism including in combination a pair ofsubstantially parallel contactsupporting members, means for advancing orre- 2,005,085 I tracting the end of one member relative to each otherand a cam for raising and lowering the members.

6. A switching mechanism including in combination a pair ofsubstantially parallel contactsupporting members, a cam with which theend of the members contacts for moving said members relative to eachother and means for advancing or retracting the end of one member tovary the period during which the contacts are closed.

7. A switching mechanism including in combination a pair ofsubstantially parallel members, an actuating cam with which one end ofthe members contact for moving said members relative to each other, acontact carried by one member and contacting with the other means forvarying the period during which the contacts are closed and means forvarying the period between successive closings of said contacts;

8. In a time switch,'the combination of a pendulum, a resilient memberextending to one side be effected by one speed of the clock movement,'

regulating means for widely varying the speed of the clock movement, andmeans for alternatively bringing the several switches into operativerelation to the time control.

PAUL HUNGERB'UHLER.

